BR22 Load Is Sooty?

[moonzapa]

I went to my friendly public range today to sight-in a newly built 22BR rifle. However, one of the loads for my 22BR left a small residue of "soot" from the case neck all the way down the sides of the cases. Haven't seen this before. I was shooting the Sierra 40 grain Blitzkings over 28.0 grains of Reloader 7, sparked by Federal Small Rifle "Match" primers. COL: 1.685" (bullet ogive). Got several 5-shot groups that were the size of a nickel at 50 yards. (The Sierra Reloading Manual suggested the use of Remington 7-1/2 primers. This was the only departure I made from the manual.

I inspected the fired cases and noted no high pressure signs; the bolt lifted easily and there were no marks on the cases.

The other load I used, 50 grain Sierra Blitzkings, shot very well using Benchmark powder and Federal Small Rifle Match primers. No soot issues at all. I'm thinking that I may want to use a slower burning powder that fills the case more.

Anyone experience this?

 

[243winxb]

22BR My Guess is ..........

I have NO experance with 22BR. I would think the cause of the soot may be low pressure. Or the burn rate of RL7 is to slow. Or the brass needs to be fire formed to the chamber better. Steves pages lists a top load of 30.5gr with a 40gr bullet. Have you looked at this page/data? http://www.6mmbr.com/22BR.html

 

[243winxb]

COL

Start with the bullets base at the neck shoulder junction, to get a good powder burn. Should not be a problem with a custom chamber.

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[gamestalker]

Sounds pretty consistent with low pressure, IMO. And if you are below or near the published start with that powder and bullet weight, probably the culprit.

GS

 

[jdduffy]

I use #7 in my 22-ppc and it shoots fantastic.like the others have said it sounds like low pressure.

 

[moonzapa]

I loaded-up 20 more rounds of 22BR tonite. I seated the 40 grain Sierra's
.005" deeper hoping that the pressure will go up and get rid of the soot. (40 grain bullets just barely seats deep enough to my satisfaction). I also loaded some Sierra 53 HP Match loads. So far this rifle is shooting to my expectations. I'm thinking of getting a Jewel or Gisele(sp) trigger to replace the Remmy trigger.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[NCsmitty]

As others have mentioned, soot down the case is a classic example of a lack of pressure causing the case not to obturate and seal against the chamber wall.
Changing your bullet seating depth by .005" will likely do nothing because bottleneck rifle cases do not react like straight pistol cases, to bullet seating depth. You need to increase your powder charge, OR increase the bullet weight with that charge.
Consider the 52gr A-Max bullet, as it is a true Match bullet, if you can locate them. Sierra does make a great bullet.

Here's a loading that is impressive.

http://www.reloadersnest.com/detail.asp?CaliberID=14&Powder=Alliant+Reloader+7&LoadID=9201


NCsmitty

 

[moonzapa]

Thanks Smitty. I have two boxes of the A-maxes and will give them a try. FYI...the gunsmith who chambered my 22BR used a .100" freebore reamer. I requested the barrel be set back and a 0" freebore reamer be used. The barrel set back went well, however, when loading short shanked bullets such as the 40 grain Sierra's there isn't much of the bullet seated in the case. I've always used the bullet diameter as a rule of thumb for bullet seating depth, but I'm trying to squeeze out all the accuracy I can get.
As a sidenote, I've had success loading the Sierra 50 grain bullet using Benchmark powder, but want to use a bullet that is easy on pelts. (blows up inside and doesn't blow out holes in the pelt). I have plenty of Reloader 7, so thanks for the load data for the A-Max bullets.

 

[243winxb]

there isn't much of the bullet seated in the case.

Changing your bullet seating depth by .005" will likely do nothing

Bullets that jump to the rifling may be very accurate.

 

[berettashotgun]

Loading the bullet long & into the lands , pressure will help seal the case.
Sometimes this is a bad thing, sometimes a good thing.

 

[moonzapa]

Loading the bullet long & into the lands , pressure will help seal the case.
Sometimes this is a bad thing, sometimes a good thing.

The load I'm using for the Sierra 40 grain bullet is not a mild load or starting load. I can't get the bullet close to the lans and still be able to seat the bullet reliably. I'm going to try to polish the expander button in my Forster FLS die and see if the reduced expander size will tighten the neck up and provide more pressure to get rid of the sooting.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. I will follow up and let you all know how this turns out.